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Four deaths mark horror start to New Year

Allen Newton and Rania Spooner

A man and an eight-year-old child both died early on New Year's Day. Photo: Channel Ten

Body found in Weir

Fatal one-punch assault

Hit and run death and child death start road toll

Northbridge violence

The mystery death of a woman at Mundaring Weir, a one-punch death in Shark Bay, a fatal hit and run and the death of an eight-year-old in a car crash have marked a horror start to the new year.

Although police are blaming only a few troublemakers for the tragic events and bad behaviour across WA overnight arrests were up by 70 people from 2011 at 220, with 459 charges laid in the one night.

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Body found in Weir

Midland Detectives are asking for help to identify a woman found floating in the water at Mundaring Weir about 8.30pm Monday night.

WA Police acting Assistant Commissioner Fred Gere said with the investigation in its early stages little was known about what had happened to the woman, or where she had come from.

She was described as 30 to 40 years old, fair skinned, of slim build and with light brown shoulder length hair.

Anyone who has a friend or relative who was visiting the area and has not returned home, or anyone who knows of a woman planning to be in the area in the last 24 to 48 hours is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Fatal one-punch assault

A man has died after an alleged one-punch assault in the car park of the Heritage Hotel at Shark Bay about 2.20am.

Detectives were travelling to Shark Bay from Carnarvon and Geraldton, with members of the major crime squad en route from Perth, Mr Gere said.

"Our condolences go to the family and friends," he said.

During the altercation, which was believed to have broken out during closing time at the pub, a 31-year-old man allegedly hit a 28-year-old man.

Police allege the punch caused the man to fall to the ground, possibly hitting his head on the bitumen.

He was rushed to the Shark Bay Nursing Post but was declared dead after he failed to regain consciousness.

The 31-year-old man is assisting police with their inquiries.

Hit and run death and child death start road toll

Major crash investigators are also calling for witnesses to a fatal hit and run overnight in Waikiki.

Details are still being sourced but it appears about 4.30am on New Year's Day a man was standing or walking on Ennis Avenue near Safety Bay when he was struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.

The man had yet to be identified while major crash officers were at the scene on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in a tragic start to the year for a young family, police are investigating a crash on Tuesday in Wootatting which resulted in the death of a young girl.

Just after midnight a 30-year-old woman and her two girls, aged two and eight, were travelling in a Toyota Echo sedan.

Approximately 30kms west of York, on Wundabiniring Road and Great Southern Highway, their car left the road and hit a tree.

They were trapped in the car and had to be cut free.

All were flown to Perth for treatment. The woman was still in a serious condition at Royal Perth Hospital Tuesday morning, and the two-year-old at Princess Margaret Hospital with minor injuries.

The eight-year-old child died as a result of her injuries.

The two tragedies started the road death toll early for 2013 after police figures revealed a spike in road fatalities in 2012 lead by the metropolitan region.

There were 187 deaths on WA roads last year, up from 179 in 2011, according to police figures.

The increase was despite a drop in road deaths in the country.

Northbridge violence

Meanwhile, assaults erupted across the Northbridge entertainment district with one woman rushed to Royal Perth Hospital after she was pushed down a flight of stairs.

Mr Gere said two men were involved in the altercation, which saw the woman unconscious and in a "very serious condition" transported to hospital on Monday night. Her condition has since stabilised.

In an unrelated incident another man was taken to Royal Perth Hospital after a violent confrontation in the area.

"There were assaults all across the metropolitan area," Mr Gere said.

"But currently if you look at what occurred there; it was something similar to what you would see on a Friday or Saturday night."

The mystery death of a woman at Mundaring Weir, a one punch death in Shark Bay, a fatal hit and run and the death of an eight-year-old in a car crash have marked a horror start to the new year.

Although police are blaming only a few troublemakers for the tragic events and bad behaviour, across WA overnight arrests were up by 70 people from 2011 at 220, with 459 charges laid in the one night.

Midland Detectives are asking for help to identify a woman found floating in the water at Mundaring Weir about 8.30pm Monday night.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the death of the woman, who was 30 to 40 years old, fair skinned, of slim build with light brown shoulder length hair.

WA Police acting Assistant Commissioner Fred Gere said with the investigation in its early stages little was known about what had happened to the woman, or where she had come from.

Anyone who has a friend or relative who was visiting the area and has not returned home, or anyone who knows of a woman planning to be in the area in the last 24 to 48 hours is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, a man has been killed at Shark Bay after an alleged one-punch assault in the car park of the Heritage Hotel at Shark Bay about 2.20am.

Detectives are travelling to Shark Bay from Carnarvon and Geraldton, with members of the Major Crime Squad on en route from Perth, Mr Gere said.

"Our condolences go to the family and friends," he said.

During the altercation, which was believed to have broken out during closing time at the pub, a 31-year-old man hit a 28-year-old man.

Police allege the punch caused the man to fall to the ground, possibly hitting his head on the bitumen.

He was rushed to the Shark Bay Nursing Post but declared dead after failing to regain consciousness.

The 31-year-old man has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm and is expected to face court later this month.

Major Crash Investigators are also calling for witnesses to a fatal hit and run overnight in Waikiki.

Details are still being sourced but it appears about 4.30am this morning a man was standing or walking on Ennis Ave near Safety Bay when he was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle left the scene. The man has not been identified at present.

Major Crash officers were at the scene this morning.

In a tragic start to the year for a young family, police are investigating a crash this morning in Wootatting which resulted in the death of a young girl.

Just after midnight a 30-year-old woman and her two girls, aged two and eight, were travelling in a Toyota Echo sedan.

Approximately 30kms west of York, on Wundabiniring Rd and Great Southern Highway, their car left the road and hit a tree.

They were trapped in the car and had to be cut free.

All were flown to Perth for treatment. The woman is currently in RPH in a serious condition and the two-year-old is in PMH with minor injuries.

The eight-year-old child died as a result of her injuries.

The two tragedies started the road death toll early for 2013 after police figures revealed a spike in road fatalities in 2012 lead by the metropolitan region.

There were 187 deaths on WA roads last year, up from 179 in 2011, according to police figures.

The increase was despite a drop in road deaths in the country.

The Northbridge entertainment district also had its share of assaults overnight, with one woman rushed to Royal Perth Hospital after she was pushed down a flight of stairs.

Mr Gere said two men were involved in the altercation, which saw the woman in a "very serious condition" when she was transported to hospital unconscious on Monday night.

She was believed to have regained consciousness on Tuesday morning.

In an unrelated incident another man was rushed to RPH after being struck.

"There were assaults all across the metropolitan area," Mr Gere said.

"But currently if you look at what occurred there; it was something similar to what you would see on a Friday or Saturday night."